[Advaita-l] Chakilam Venkatesh - Controversy???

[Sangeerth P]

Namaskaram Vikram ji

My point is not about the critics of Advaita or Vishishtadvaita. My point
was all about the Chakillam person who in the name of Ahambrahmasmi
propounds something which is not even there. This will actually defame the
authenticity of the institution. And as you told Vishwas ji has tried to
approach him on Twitter and through youtube comments asking for a zoom call
to clarify stuff. His twitter account was blocked. The youtube comments
were deleted. The comedy is that all of these citations are made under the
banner that he is funded by Ahambrahmasmi putting Ubhaya jagadgurus photo
in the Youtube page. This not only demeans him. This can demean all the
people whom he is citing. If he doesn't know Brahma Sutras it's better that
he dont post these wrong videos. Saying something that "this is what
Shankaracharya said" and when we open the book none of the editions contain
such sloka or a sutram is very funny. This will lead to the question: are
these the kinds of the scholars which Ahambrahmasmi deals with? This was my
main concern. At Least people from the Sringeri sect must try to stop him
from making false claims about his own acharya. The debates between
Srivaishnavas and Advaitins was not my point at all because Shatadhushani
was done by Swami Desikan for which we had Shatabhushani. For Shatabhushani
there was Paramartha bhushana again made by Uttamur swami from Srivaishnava
clan. These healthy debates are appreciated in between the schools of
thought. But telling something which no one has stated is very wrong. That
too using the name of Aham Brahmasmi organization and putting
jagadgurus photo.

Regards
Sangeerth P
8608658009


On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 10:40 AM Swagata Chowdhury via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Dear,
> None of us are discussing Advaita Vedanta or the criticisms made by the Sri
> Vaishnavas. It is actually about Chikram, who appears to be using
> fabricated sūtras. If that is truly the case, it is actually quite
> shameful.
>
> On Fri, 7 Nov 2025, 11:03 am Vikram Jagannathan via Advaita-l, <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> > Namaskaram Sangeerth ji,
> >
> > I am not personally familiar with Shri Venkatesh Chakkilam and therefore
> > cannot comment on his association with various organizations.
> >
> > If there are genuine doubts regarding the references he has quoted, it
> > would be best to seek clarification directly from him. I am sure there
> are
> > appropriate means to contact him for such clarifications. Without doing
> so,
> > drawing conclusions about his intent or approach would be premature.
> >
> > While the Advaita–Visishtadvaita debate has a long and rich history, the
> > clear misunderstandings of Advaita Siddhanta evident in the critic’s
> > statements (some of which I have already pointed out) significantly
> weaken
> > the credibility of his criticisms. Consequently, his claims of
> “inaccurate
> > references” too appear questionable in both accuracy and validity and do
> > not inspire confidence. I do not have the inclination to watch the other
> > videos.
> >
> > In simple terms, with all due respect to the critic, I personally find
> his
> > grasp of Advaita Siddhanta insufficiently grounded to support such
> > criticisms. Without correct knowledge and comprehension, any criticism
> > becomes a futile exercise.
> >
> > prostrations,
> > Vikram
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Nov 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM Sangeerth P <psangeerthgenius at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Namaste ji
> > > Thank you for your clarification. But can you please tell about this
> > > Chakilam guy? Is he really from Aham Brahmasmi? And he is citing sutras
> > > which does not exists at all. Wont this be bringing the reputation of
> > Aham
> > > Brahmasmi foundation to streets? Refuting Advaita or Vishishtadvaita
> has
> > > been done for 100 of years wherein one paksha will say you did not
> > > understand the opponents paksha. But the errors which Chakkilam ji is
> > > pointing to does not go in hand with Advaita acharyas themselves right?
> > > Because those kinds of sutras or vishnu purana sloka does not exists is
> > > what Vishwas ji is pointing to. How do we understand this fact?
> > >
> > >
> > > Regards
> > > Sangeerth P
> > > 8608658009
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 5:18 AM Vikram Jagannathan via Advaita-l <
> > > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Namaskaram Sangeerth ji & Swagata ji,
> > >>
> > >> The critic (Youtube id: Vishvas Vasuki) seems to belong to
> > Visishtadvaita
> > >> Sri-Vaishnava sampradayam (non-Advaitin). I would take his criticisms
> of
> > >> Advaita (and Advaitin) with a bucket-load of salt and instead reach
> out
> > to
> > >> an Advaita acharya to clarify the Advaita position.
> > >>
> > >> Unless you have already done so; prior to getting the clarification
> (or
> > >> confirmation) from an Advaita acharya, it is strongly recommended to
> > >> refrain from denigrating (such as "bringing the pedestal of Sringeri
> to
> > >> streets") an Advaita scholar.
> > >>
> > >> Below is my personal opinion:
> > >>
> > >> I just listened to 1 video (
> > >> https://youtu.be/LIX8SNz-Pl8?si=OWDGfv3ddKeC2TRD)
> > >> and to me this is the critic's clear misunderstanding,
> > mischaracterization
> > >> and misrepresentation of Advaita.
> > >>
> > >> Atman in paramarthika sense is indeed absolutely changeless and
> > unmoving.
> > >> In vyavaharika, due to adhyasa with sukshma and karana shariras, the
> > >> perceived jivatma transmigrates. This is a clear Advaita stance and
> the
> > >> critic has failed to understand the siddhanta prior to criticizing
> > >> Advaita.
> > >> The two shlokas from SBG refer to these distinct perspectives. 2.24 is
> > >> clearly paramarthika whereas 8.24 is vyavaharika. The critic is
> > confusing
> > >> the two perspectives.
> > >>
> > >> At the 8:54 minute mark the critic says that "some Shankarans
> (implying
> > >> Advitins) make Bhagavan Shri Krishna to be an insane person"! Kindly
> > point
> > >> to an Advaita acharya or Advaita granta where Bhagavan is said to be
> so!
> > >>
> > >> At the 12:18 minute mark the critic says that "Sankaracharya twisted
> > Veda
> > >> Vyasa's views very clearly".
> > >>
> > >> At the 15:30 minute mark, there is an attempt by the critic to state
> > >> Advaita siddhanta as taught by Swami Sankaracharya. The attempt is an
> > >> inaccurate, misrepresentation of Advaita siddhanta.
> > >>
> > >> One's own misunderstanding of Advaita should not be mischaracterized
> as
> > a
> > >> flaw in the siddhanta. Neither does restating one's own sampradhayam
> > >> perspective imply inaccuracy of Advaita bhashya.
> > >> *To me, the criticism is baseless, biased and flawed; It doesn't
> warrant
> > >> listening to any other of the critic's videos.*
> > >>
> > >> If there are questions on quotations / references, that can (and
> should)
> > >> be
> > >> taken up individually & specifically with the teacher directly.
> > >>
> > >> *Note: I have not listened to Shri Venkatesh Chakkilam's discourses
> and
> > >> hence, notwithstanding accuracy of his Advaita teaching, my opinion is
> > >> limited to the criticism in the aforementioned video.*
> > >>
> > >> prostrations,
> > >> Vikram
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Thu, Nov 6, 2025 at 9:49 AM Swagata Chowdhury via Advaita-l <
> > >> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > I do not believe he is actually associated with *Aham Brahmāsmi*.
> > >> However,
> > >> > that organization tends to invite people rather freely—much like
> > Indica.
> > >> > Indica has, on multiple occasions, invited certain fraudulent
> > >> individuals
> > >> > to their programs. Later, some scholars sent them an email, they
> > >> confirmed
> > >> > that they would no longer invite him.
> > >> >
> > >> > In my opinion, it is preferable to invite only those with a genuine
> > >> > Sanskrit background—whether academic or traditional. And if someone
> is
> > >> from
> > >> > a different field, they should at least have strong recommendations
> > from
> > >> > respected Sanskrit scholars.
> > >> >
> > >> > swagata
> > >> >
> > >> > On Thu, 6 Nov 2025, 1:16 pm Sangeerth P via Advaita-l, <
> > >> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > > Namaskaram
> > >> > >
> > >> > > What is this happening with this Chakillam Venkatesh? Is he really
> > >> from
> > >> > > ahambrahmasmi team? He is bringing the pedestal of Sringeri to
> > >> streets I
> > >> > > feel by citing sutras which are no where found and slokas from
> > Vishnu
> > >> > > puranam no where found.
> > >> > >
> > >> > > Gita-2-17
> > >> > > https://youtu.be/LIX8SNz-Pl8?si=cRqz1Ofo8yaxZ0G1
> > >> > >
> > >> > > Gita-2-24
> > >> > > https://youtu.be/tXpUd-mYzNs?si=GWR-UwiQ1ehwIgCa
> > >> > >
> > >> > > His arrogance
> > >> > > https://youtu.be/hjdiTt9ikaI?si=hVOEGldf4bwG8WiD
> > >> > >
> > >> > >
> > >> > > Regards
> > >> > > Sangeerth P
> > >> > > 8608658009
> > >> > > _______________________________________________
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